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N.Y. production shoots up to 34,718 days

Film and television production set a record in New York last year, with the city playing host to the highest number of television, commercial and music video shoots ever. The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting reported that it assisted 34,718 shoot days on public property, a 10% increase compared with 2005, when the introduction of the "Made in NY" incentive program set a then-record 31,578 shoot days in the city. "Just a few years ago, we were seeing films about New York being shot in other cities and countries," commission chief Katherine Oliver said. "Now, the 'Made in NY' program has created thousands of new jobs by bringing $2.4 billion in business to New York over the past two years."

QVC content streams to AOL Video

NEW YORK — AOL has partnered with Liberty Media Corp.'s QVC network to bring two new channels to its video site, including the first live streaming service on the portal, the Time Warner subsidiary said Thursday. QVC TV Live, which already has launched, will stream the shopping channel's content around the clock on AOL Video. In addition, QVC On Demand, launching next week, will offer more than 400 clips and be updated daily.

IFC grabs 'Drama/Mex' for First Take

IFC Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to Canana Films' Spanish-language drama "Drama/Mex," which it will release as part of its IFC First Take banner, bowing it simultaneously in theaters and on cable video-on-demand. Written and directed by Gerardo Naranjo, "Drama/Mex" is set in Acapulco and tells the interwoven stories of a suicidal old man, a 15-year-old runaway girl and a young couple. Arianna Bocco and Elizabeth Nastro negotiated the film's acquisition with Endeavor Independent, which represented the filmmakers.

Rodi tapped exec vp at Myriad

Pamela Rodi has been named executive vp marketing and publicity at Myriad Pictures, president and CEO Kirk D'Amico said Thursday. Rodi, who reports to president of distribution Ann Dubinet, will be responsible for all marketing and publicity initiatives for the independent film production and international distribution company. She had been founder and creative director of her own marketing agency, Rodi Marketing, and before that was vp worldwide creative advertising at Columbia/Sony Pictures.

Shapiro to run Educational B'casting

Former NBC News president Neal Shapiro has been named president of Educational Broadcasting Corp., parent company of public TV stations WNET New York and WLIW New York. Shapiro will succeed William Baker, a veteran New York-area broadcaster who has headed the city's flagship PBS affiliates since 1987. Shapiro will join Educational Broadcasting next month as president and assume the additional title of CEO in February 2008, when Baker will become president emeritus.

Reports: Tribune bids run gamut

A bid has been placed for a controlling stake in Los Angeles Times parent Tribune Co., another for only its newspaper assets, and a third just on its broadcast and entertainment holdings, according to published reports. Los Angeles financiers Eli Broad and Ron Burkle reportedly offered $500 million for a 34% stake in Tribune, while Tribune shareholder Chandler Trusts' complex bid effectively represented an offer to buy its publishing group and an unspecified private-equity group bid on select assets including Tribune's 25 TV stations, according to the Times.